Combined drill and mill vise



June 25, 1946. J. M. DOWNING 2,402,537.

COMBINED DRILL AND MI LL VISE Filed March 16, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 25 1946.

J. M. DOWNING COMBINED DRILL AND MILL VISE Filed March 16, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 25, 1946. J. M. DOWNING COMBINED DRILL AND MILL VISE Filed March 16, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 25, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT or ce COMBINED DRILL AND MILL VISE Joseph M. Downing, Dayton, Ohio Application March '16, 1943, Serial No. 479,385

The market for this reason has --been.flooded with many .so-called 'time savin-g milling and drilling vises, but to date the various designers of these vises have to the best of my knowledge neglected to observe safety features during the process of loading and unloading and have failed to obtain maximum durability of vise parts for continued accuracy and precision coupled with minimum loading and unloading time'toa satisfactory extent.

Because of the failure to produce a satisfactory time-saving machine vise combining all these critical yet neglected features, I have constructed an improved vise wherein I have to a substantial degree incorporated them. The following objects of invention still further stress the features incorporated into my improved ,device after careful study and reduction to practice. v

The first object .of my invent'on is to provide a mill vise or the like adaptedv to reduce loading time by varying the jaw travel of the vise in accordance with various thicknesses of materials to be treated.

A second object is to provide a quick acting locking device adapted to cooperate with a presetting jaw locking means to produce minimum loading time.

A third object is to provide .a iaw clampin means positioned with respect to the main body ofthe vise, so as to be operable with substantial safety to the operator from the milling machine cutting elements.

A fourth object f the invention is to provide for automatic jaw retraction to efiect rapid unloading.

A fifth object of my invention is the substan i tial elimination of threads, grooves, splines and other parts subject to wear on the vise jaw ,motion transmitting elements.

A sixth object is to provide a milling and drill- .ing vise wherein a solid stationary jaw is adapted to always be fed toward the cutting elements of the machinery. v

A seventh object of my invention is an .improved arrangement of vise jaws whereb to adapt them to use for-precision milling or drilling.

An eighth object of the invention is to provide a vise adapted to be used in combination with a new and improved jig structure.

Further objects, advantages and improvements of my invention over the prior art will be more apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isa top plan view of my quick acting vise with the jaws locked to one-of a plurality of preset work holding positions.

7 Figure 2 is a s-idev-iew partially in elevation of the vise as illustratedin Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an end view partly in elevation looking from the movable front j-awof the vise rearwardly over the rear stationary jaw.

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the vise with a side view of my novel :iig structure atv tached for-drilling. i a

Figure 5- is-a top plan view of the jig structure. T

Figure 6 is a front end View of the jig structure.-

Figure? is an alternate plan view of the rear end of Figure '1 showing two springs instead of onefor openin vise jaws automatically.

Refer-ring now in detail to the drawings; numeral l is the flat bottom portion of the vise base. A spring tie means, as solid block IA extends upright from an end of the base i and carries suitable spring adjustingmeans, as screw 23 hereinafter described in detail.

At the other end of thebase l is a stationary jaw holding means, as'solid jaw block 13 positioned off-center with respect to base I toward the front end of said base.

Extending through jaw block I B are multiple openings of various sizes in parallel relation, through the largest of which extend jaw moving means, as adjustable draw bars 2 and 2A. The drawbars Z and 2A interconnect'with a cam looking means, as cam locking tie bar 5 and movable jaw block 11 and the fixed jaw block 13 serves as a' guideway for the draw bars 2 and 2A, to slide through for vise-adjustment and clamping action.

Connection with tie bar "5 is-made at each end partlyin elevation thereof by aligned juxtaposed sets of nuts 3 and 6 and lock washers 4, threaded around the end extremity 5A of each'draw bar ;2 and 2A. One

of said respective sets of nuts 3 and 6 and Washers A are threaded one on each side of the tie bar 5; k

. The threads "5A of draw bars 2 and 2A are sufficiently elongated to extend on each side of.

transverse tie :bar :5 foradjustment of said bar .5 toward or away :from jaw block 13 byzbaoking oft orfeeding forward each set of nuts 3 and .6911

bar at a central point.

draw bars 2 and 2A equally to any desired point. Either set of nuts may when tightened against bar 5 serve as a check nut to lock the bar 5 to set position.

Carried at the other end of the draw bars 2 and 2A is a movable jaw tie block I! through which extend the ends of draw bars 2 and 2A. A shown in the drawings ends 23 of the draw bars have reduced threaded ends whereby to provide an annular-shoulder 20 adapted to abut against the inner face of jaw block H. The an. nular shoulder provides for a very tight and rigid coupling arrangement between the reduced draw bar ends 2B and the jaw block II, when lock washers I 8 and nuts I 9 are threaded down against the outer face of the jaw IT. This tethers the jaw block I! to transverse cam locking tie bar 5 adapted to be moved manually by cam A and automatically for work release, by action of spring 22 socketed within a side of the transverse cam locking tie bar 5.

. The spring 22 bridges over vise base I from transverse cam lock bar 5 to solid block IA, wherein is provided an opening to receive the same as shown in Fig. 1. Headless spring adjusting bolt 23 is provided to vary the tension of the spring 22 and is threaded into the opening in block IA with its end in contact with an end of spring 22. Spring 22 normally pushes transverse tie bar 5 forward and is retracted manually by actionof cam I5A when the high point I5B of said cam is rotated into contact with said bar 5. Obviously, when the cam is released from contact with the transverse draw tie 5 the spring 22 that has been compressed into the block IA against headless bolt 23 expends outwardly and transmits forward movement to said transverse cam tie bar 5, which transmits forward longitudinal movement to draw bars 2 and 2A through the stationary jaw block IE to move vise jaw tie block l'lcarrying the vise jaw I'IA.

The vise jaw plate "A is demountably secured to the workholding face of movable jack block II by countersunk bolts 24 and extends between draw bars2 and 2A. Also, stationary jaw block IA has a-complementary vise jaw plate I 4 dernountably secured thereto by countersunk bolts 25 between bars 2 and 2A. It is to be understood that vise jaws I4 and I 1A may extend to the ends of, or beyond I'l. Also, work set-up points such as 59 may be detachably secured to either of the jaws l4 or HA to position varying sized work pieces by suitable means as a bolt 55 or a detachable stop or locating block 56 may be fastened to the base I under the vise jaws by bolts 51 and 58. Locating blocks 56 may be of different heights and shapes to be suited to a particular job.

I Th operating cam I5A is positioned between the stationary jaw block IB and transverse cam tie bar 5, preferably positioned to contact the said The cam assembly includes a cam operating shaft 9 extending vertically from a centrally disposed opening in the vise base I. The cam operating shaft is secured in the opening by a dog point set screw II which enters within an annular groove 9A in the shaft .9. As illustrated in the drawings, Figures 1 and 2, the vise base I has a central raised rib 26 or 1ongitudinally extending pinched portion running from block IA to stationary jaw block IB through. the thicknessof which is threaded the hereinbefore mentioned dog point set screw H.

The cam |5A is connected rigidly to a tubular part I5 or cam shaft spacer member, which 'is' 76 secured to the shaft 9 by transverse pin 8. Extending substantially at right angles from cam shaft spacer I5 is a handle 1 projecting across and extending beyond the side of the vise base I. The vise jaws therefore may be closed by operation of the handle at the side of the vise, which is at a point remote from the cutter elements of the milling or drilling machinery for the obvious purpose of providing safety of operation in loading. In the prior art cam operated vises had the cam throw'handles arranged so that movement was always toward the cutting tools and many serious accidents resulted to careless Workers.

The vise base I is attached to the milling or drilling table by mill key screw 2'! in a manner well known in the art and the vise with the work held therein is fed forward toward the cutter elements. In the prior art vises have all heretocut the work against the movable jaw of the vise. By working against the movable parts of the vise additional strain was imparted to the vise mechanism and unless particular care was taken to very securely hold the movable jaw the same would give sufiiciently to interfere with precision work. I, therefore, have constructed the present vise so that all work is done against a solid anvillike vise block and jaw, that permits no drifting whatsoever of vise parts during the milling or drilling process.

The solid stationary jaw will also be provided with a set up block and set up gage such as is necessary on any production job.

The foregoing description relates to milling, but when it is desired to use the vise for drilling, I have provided a novel jig device adapted to be attached to the stationary vise jaw block IB. As shown in Figure 1 the top of the jaw block IB is bored with threaded opening 28, 29 and 53 and unthreaded openings or hardened and ground jig bushings 30 and 3| to receive bolts 32 and 33 and locating pins 34 and 35 respectively carried by the jig plate bracket 36. r

The jig structure is attached as illustrated in Figure 4 to the solid jaw block IB by inserting locating pin 34 and 35 into openings 30 and 3! and then securing the jig base plate 36 to the stationary jaw IB by threading bolts 32, 33 and 54 into threaded openings 28, 29 and 53. The jig base plate is preferably made of hardened metal by any suitable metal hardening process.

In the forward end of the jig lid base 36 are stops 3'! and 38, each stop having an elongated shank portion 39 penetrating into the base plate 36 and each stop with raised head portions of sufficient height to maintain the jig lid or bushing plate 40 in substantially parallel relation to base plate 36 for accurate drilling. At the front corner side edges of the base plate 36 are two upstanding lugs 4| and 42 between which is accurately located a jig lid 40 and at the rear corner side edges of base plate 36 are two upstanding lugs 43 and 44 with transverse openings therethrough. Engaged between the jig base lugs 43 and 44 are jig lid lugs 45 and 46 with transverse openings therethrough adapted to align with the complementary openings in said jig base lugs for reception of jig lid hinge pins 41 and 48.

The jig lid 40 is closed and released by jig lid screw 49 threaded into jig base plate 36 at the forward end. The screw 49 has an elongated narrow head 50 adapted to cooperate with an elongated slot 5i slightly larger than the head 50, whereby the lid 40 may be locked down to The operation or action of the vise is as follows:

The handle I is turned to the low point of cam l5A, which automatically opens the jaws by action of spring 22. With the jaws now apart the vise may be loaded or unloaded. After making a test load of the parts to be worked on in the vise by turning handle I, it may be determined that a predetermined adjustment of the vise jaw movement should be made. This is of course done when it is determined that work of certain size and thickness for this particular job is to be held by the vise.

Predetermined adjustment is made by loosening nut sets 3 and B on the draw bars 2 and 2A to adjust transverse cam tie bar 5 forwardly or rearwardly on the said draw bars 2 and 2A as necessary according to size of the work to be clamped by the vise jaws upon rotation of the cam ISA into contact with transverse cam tie bar 5. Following this movement either set of nuts *3 or 6 are threaded tight against the transverse cam tie bar 5 to lock the same to the draw bars 2 and 2A in set position. The vise is then fed toward the milling elements with the movable jaw 11 locked and holding the mill part facing the said milling elements. Obviously, this provides for milling against the stationary part of the vise, which will give accurate locating points for all parts alike.

When it is desired to use my vise for drilling the jig lid and bracket attached to stationary jaw block iB and jig lid 40 is swung to closed position over the work held in the vise jaws. The lid is locked down by jig lid screw 49 and the proper sized jig bushings may then be selected for the drilling operation, as is well understood in the art.

Though I have described my invention by reference to a specifically illustrated design of vise, I wish it understood that I may provide the following change therein without departing from the inventive concept:

1. I may construct my vise with a springs 22 as shown in Figure 7.

It is further to be understood that my invention shall also include any construction coming within the scope of the following claims of invention appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A vice of the character described, including a base, a fixed jaw carried by the base and having a pair of spaced guide openings therethrough, a draw bar slidably disposed through each of said guide openings and having its free end portions plurality of extending beyond either side of said fixed jaw, a

transverse jaw member connecting one pair of the adjacent free ends of the draw bars together and movable toward said fixed jaw for gripping a work piece between said jaws, an adjustable transverse tie bar for connecting the opposite pair of free ends of the draw bars together, a manually actuated cam member interposed between the fixed jaw and the transverse tie bar for mov- 6 ing the latter and thereby the transverse jaw-toward the fixed jaw, and biasing' means carried by the base and engaging the transverse tie bar for moving the transverse jaw member away from the fixed jaw when the cam member is moved towardits inoperative position.

2. A vise of the character described, including an elongated base, a fixed jaw carried by the base adjacent the front end of the latter, a stop carried by the base adjacent the rear end of the latter, a slidable support carried by the fixed jaw and having a part extending to either side thereof, a jaw carried by the front end of the support and movable therewith toward and away from the fixed jaw so as to grip a work piece between said jaws, an adjustable bearing plate carried by the rear end of the support, manually actuated means for engaging the bearing plate for moving the same and thereby the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw, and means interposed between the stop and bearing plate normally biasing the latter and thereby the movable jaw in a direction away from the fixed jaw, whereby when the actuating means is moved away from the bearing plate, the biasing means will cause separation of the jaws to release a work piece previously gripped and held therebetween.

3. A vise of the character described, including an elongated base, a vertical standard carried by the base adjacent the front end of the latter, a fixed jaw carried by the upper end of the standard having its operating face disposed toward the front end of the base, a vertically disposed stop carried by the base adjacent the rear end of the latter and in spaced relation to the standard, said stop having a forwardl opening socket member adjacent its upper end, a slidable support carried by the upper end of the standard and having a part extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof, a second jaw carried by the front end of the support and movable therewith toward and away from the fixed jaw, an adjustable bearing plate carried by the rear end of the support, manually actuated means carried by the base between the bearing plate and standard for engaging the bearing plate so as to move the same and thereby the second-named jaw toward the fixed jaw, spring means disposed within the socket formed in the stop and engaging the bearing plate so as to normally bias the latter and thereby the second-named jaw in a direction away from the fixed jaw, and means for adjustin the tension of th spring means, whereby when the actuating means is moved away from the bearing plate the spring means will cause separation of the jaws so a to release a work piece previously gripped and held therebetween.

4. IA vise of the character described, including a base, a fixed jaw carried by the base and having a pair of spaced guide openings therethrough,

a draw bar slidably disposed through each of said guide openings and having "their free end portions extending beyond either side of said fixed jaw, atransverse jaw member connecting one pair of the adjacent free ends of the draw bars together and movable toward said fixed jaw for gripping a work piece therebetween, an adjustable transverse tie bar for connecting the opposite pair of free ends of the draw bars together, a manually actuated cam member interposed between the fixed jaw and the transverse tie bar for moving the latter and thereb the transverse jaw toward the fixed jaw, biasing means carried by the base and engaging the transverse tie bar for moving the transverse jaw member awa from the fixed jaw when the cam member is moved toward its inoperative position, a jig having a pair of spaced guide openings adjacent its forward end, and means for pivotally connecting the rear endof the jig member to the upper face of the fixed jaw whereby when the jaws are moved into work-engaging relation, and the jig is swung to a horizontal position, the guide openings in the latter will overlie a work piece gripped between the jaws.

5. A vise of the character described, including anelongated base, a fixed jaw carried by the base adjacent the front end of the latter, a stop carried by the base adjacent the rear end of the latter, a slidable support carried by the fixed jaw and having a part extending to either side thereof, a jaw carried by the front end of the support and movable therewith toward and away from the fixed jaw so as to grip a Work piece therebetween, an adjustable bearing plate carried by the rear end of the support, manually actuated means for engaging the bearing plate for moving the same and thereby the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw, means interposed between the stop and bearing plate normally biasing the latter and thereby the removable jaw in a direction away from the fixed jaw, whereby When the actuating means is moved away from the bearing plate, the biasing means will cause separation of the jaws so as to release a work piece previously gripped and held therebetween, a jig plate having a pair of spaced guide openings therein adjacent its forward end, and means for securing the jig plate to the upper face of the fixed jaw so that the guide openings will overlie a work piece gripped between the jaw members.

JOSEPH M. DOWNING. 

